EGNOS TRAN – SISNET

Due to the low elevation of the EGNOS satellites, their signal is difficult or sometimes impossible to receive in certain regions. Many present and also future applications require a high accuracy and also a high reliability of the position determination, which can easily be performed by the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS). If the EGNOS signal cannot be received, the requirements of those applications can no longer be satisfied.

To reduce this problem EGNOS Terrestrial Regional Augmentation Networks (EGNOS TRAN) project team evaluated various technical methods to broadcast the EGNOS signal via terrestrial networks, like GSM/GPRS, Loran-C or Ground Regional Augmentation System (GRAS).

The EGNOS TRAN Project developed a professional SISNeT-powered EGNOS receiver called ShPIDER. This device integrates a GPS receiver and a GPRS modem, which provides wireless access to Signal-in-Space over the Internet (SISNET). The wireless link also allows remote control, as well as transmission of position and other products to a control centre. A personal digital assitant (PDA) version of that receiver was also developed and demonstrated.

The EGNOS-TRAN SISNET project was initiated in May 2002 and concluded in May 2003.